"The guys have been buying into the system and things are working out," Grand Blanc coach Craig Trombley said.

Kurtaga, a senior and state qualifier last year, has generated a lot of excitement for his team.

"We're excited to see what he can do this year, now that he has some experience under his belt," Trombley said. "And Noah has been working hard all season. He uses his loss in last year's districts as motivation."

Grand Blanc's losses came at the hands of Goodrich, 40-26, and Port Huron Northern 37-31.

"Ultimately, a lot of the reason for the gap with Goodrich comes down to bonus points," Trombley said. "A pin or technical fall makes a big difference instead of just a decision. They won a couple good matchups and got a three-point swing."